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Stories about the mumps outbreak and religious objections to vaccination:
Should Christian group linked to mumps outbreak identify itself?
The Vancouver Sun has received complaints from people who attack us for identifying the group behind the mumps outbreak in the Fraser Valley as "Christian." Go here for story and readers' comments. The critics say we wouldn't do so if it was a Sikh, Jewish or other minority group or religion linked to the outbreak. I disagree.
Douglas Todd, The Search, Vancouver Sun, August 28
Two-thirds of mumps cases likely going undetected
The mumps outbreak spreading through parts of the Fraser Valley could be three times as large as the 191 cases health officials have identified so far.
Globe and Mail, August 29
Dutch Reformed likely at heart of mumps outbreak
A retired physician in Chilliwack vividly remembers the conservative Christian mushroom farmer who came to him in 1978 severely ill with polio, which was starting to paralyze his body. The B.C. polio victim was a member of an arch-conservative arm of the Dutch Reformed church, which held it goes against God's will to accept vaccinations for polio or other infectious diseases, Dr. R. W. Van der Flier said in an interview.
Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun, August 30
Vaccination dramatically cuts childhood disease
As B.C. health officials continue to monitor a major outbreak of mumps in the Fraser Valley, a study released today shows how vaccinations for common childhood illnesses can make significant inroads into mortality and morbidity. . . . In 1995, the United States became the first country to introduce a universal childhood varicella vaccination program. The vaccine is available for every child, regardless of ability to pay. Though laws vary from state to state, it is part of the immunization required before children enroll in public school (exceptions being those seeking exemption because of a compromised immune system or conflict with philosophical or religious beliefs).
Globe and Mail, September 2
Officials to review battle plan in mumps outbreak
Provincial health officials are expected to meet this week or next to determine whether a broader response is required to combat a mumps outbreak that has spread from the Fraser Valley to Metro Vancouver since February. . . . The Fraser Valley outbreak has been traced to two people from Alberta who travelled to B.C., where they passed on the virus to a pool of people in Chilliwack. From there, it has spread to Abbotsford, Langley, Surrey and Metro Vancouver, where a case has been reported in Burnaby. The Fraser Health Authority has not identified the community, but has said it comprises a group of people who shun immunization for religious reasons.
Globe and Mail, September 3
Earlier: Stories about the mumps outbreak and religious objections to vaccination
Stories about Bolingo Etibako, arson survivor
A SkyTrain stabbing, a deadly blaze
A 20-year-old Vancouver man accused of five counts of first-degree murder torched an east Vancouver home in retaliation for one of those inside the home giving information to police about a stabbing near SkyTrain, the Crown alleged Monday at the opening of the murder trial. On March 22, 2005, near the Metrotown SkyTrain station, a man was stabbed six to eight times, Crown prosecutor Kerr Clark said during his opening statement to the jury, outlining the evidence to be called at the seven-week trial. He said the accused killer, Nathan Richard Fry, was arrested along with Bolingo Etibako, who gave a statement to police about the stabbing.
Vancouver Sun, September 9
Children screamed 'for their lives'
Woman testifies about the night five of her neighbours died in an east Vancouver fire
Vancouver Sun, September 10
'I saw my family's bodies,' man tells court
When Adela Etibako left her home to visit a friend on a Sunday afternoon in May, 2006, she bid an affectionate goodbye to her oldest son. Earlier that day, he'd given her a card, a purse and flowers for Mother's Day. If anything happened, he'd have to be the man of the house and a good boy, T.J. Etibako recalled yesterday in testimony in a B.C. Supreme Court murder trial. That was the last time they spoke. Early the next morning Mr. Etibako, who'd spent the night with friends, returned to find the charred shell of his family's home and the bodies of his mother, sisters and brother laid out before the home.
Globe and Mail, September 11
Earlier: Stories about Bolingo Etibako, arson survivor
Stories about abortion clinic "bubble zones":
Court upholds abortion clinic 'bubble zones'
Legislation infringes only minimally on free speech rights, three justices rule
Vancouver Sun, September 5
Abortion protesters' appeal denied
B.C. law that created no-go zone around clinics infringes justifiably on freedom of expression, province's top court rules
Globe and Mail, September 5
Tories' new fetus bill unnecessary, lawyers say
A proposed bill by the federal justice minister to make the injury or death of a fetus an aggravating circumstance for judges to consider during sentencing is unnecessary and nothing more than a "quickie political fix," a national lawyers group says. Rob Nicholson said last week that his government would not support a Tory private member's bill, C-484, the Unborn Victims of Crime Act. Critics of the bill said it was a backdoor way of reopening the abortion debate by giving a fetus legal status. The bill excluded abortion as a crime.
National Post, September 6
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Stories about Islam and the West:
Seven years later
The long, violent terror war in the Islamic world -- which killed hundreds of thousands in Algeria alone in the 1990s -- took on global dimensions on Sept. 11, 2001. The attacks on New York -- the unofficial capital of the world -- and Washington, D. C., the American capital city, meant that the rise of Islamic extremism could no longer be considered a problem only for the Muslim world. The subsequent bombings in Bali, Madrid and London demonstrated that the whole world would be engaged in this battle, whether it wanted to be or not.
Father Raymond J. De Souza, National Post, September 11
A fresh start for Muslims
For thousands of Canadian families, the first week of September was important. Students across the country went back to school and hit the books. Many of us remember those good old days. I fondly recall lying in bed the night before the first day back. Day one always felt like a new beginning. Like many of my friends, I would make a resolution to get excellent grades and apply myself throughout the year. This Sept. 2 I wasn't going back to school, but still, I had many of the same feelings. American President George W. Bush and Secretary of State for Multiculturalism Jason Kenney made statements -- the holy month of Ramadan was starting.
Sameer Zuberi, Vancouver Sun, September 11
Earlier: Stories about Islam and the West
Other stories from the past week:
Controversial artwork could put Calgary on global cultural stage
The morning air was crisp and the brass-heavy crowd that gathered Friday in Ramsay to witness the arrival of Dennis Oppenheim's Device to Root out Evil was revved with excitement. Glenbow Museum president Jeffrey Spalding hailed the sculpture as "the pinnacle work" of Oppenheim's career minutes before a flatbed truck carrying the six-metre-high work rolled down 24th Avenue S.E. Calgary is undergoing a metamorphosis that will change the face of the city, while the acquisition of this major public artwork is bringing the city into a dialogue that has the potential to place it on the international cultural stage.
Calgary Herald, September 6
Earlier: Stories about the upside-down church sculpture
Celebrate suffering: Making a choice for pain or paradise
It was a shock last year to hear that Mother Teresa of Calcutta for decades felt that she had lost her faith in God, that she endured spiritual emptiness. Yet even though the publication of Mother Teresa's revealing letters provoked a useful discussion about the relationship of doubt to faith, it didn't cause people to ask another big question: How did Mother Teresa view her own suffering? She welcomed it. . . . In light of the summer release of a book that turns upside down the history of the Christian church's view of Jesus' crucifixion, the Albanian nun's convictions about suffering warrant re-examination. The new book, Saving Paradise: How Christianity Traded Love of This World for Crucifixion and Empire (Beacon Press) says the early church didn't highlight Jesus' suffering, but emphasized love of this Earth, striving to make it a paradise.
Douglas Todd, The Search, Vancouver Sun, September 6
'Hippest man on earth'
Vancouver's Robin Blaser joined some of the planet's most renowned poets two months ago on stage at a gala literary event in Toronto, where he read some of his verse. . . . Despite his grandfather's high station in the Mormon church, Blaser's father became what is known as a "Jack Mormon," a lapsed one. His mother, however, was a devout Roman Catholic, and Blaser became an altar boy. He was taught in his young days by what he considers some "very intelligent" priests. He thought of becoming a priest himself. "I certainly did my reading of the great Catholic saints. And, boy, are they a good read. St. Francis of Assisi, St. Augustine. I still find their minds marvelous and creative." Eventually, however, he came up against the Roman Catholic Church's view of his emerging sexual orientation.
Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun, September 6
Todd Bentley not the only Canadian faith healer to pack it in
It has not been a good time for Canadian faith healers. Not only did Abbotsford's tattooed Todd Bentley leave his controversial Florida healing ministry last month over a scandal about a woman and his aggressive style, another big-name B.C.-based faith healer has also suddenly stopped his ministry. Len Lindstrom of Kelowna says he's not going to church and has turned his marketing skills to stock promoting.
Douglas Todd, The Search, Vancouver Sun, September 8
Earlier: Stories about Todd Bentley
The "Church" of Santana, U2, Cohen and more
"This feels like church. And it's a Sunday," said Carlos Santana, smiling. Those were the first words to come out of the mouth of one of the world's most inspiring guitarists at his Sunday, Sept. 7 concert in Vancouver. After playing eight songs without speaking, the gifted 61-year-old songwriter spoke about hoping his concerts are spiritual experiences.
Douglas Todd, The Search, Vancouver Sun, September 8
Lilly follows her moral compass
Before agreeing to a small cameo in Kathryn Bigelow's gut-wrenching film The Hurt Locker, Canadian actress Evangeline Lilly picked up the phone and dialled the director's Los Angeles home. The two women talked for hours . about the Iraq war (grittily explored in this movie), politics and life in general. A deeply spiritual woman who was raised Baptist and Mennonite, Lilly says she made the call because she had to make sure the tone of the film was in sync with her own moral compass.
Globe and Mail, September 10
Ontario needs a single secular school system
As students return to school this month, the issue of why there are two publicly funded school systems in Ontario needs to be addressed. It is time to correct an injustice. Separate Roman Catholic schools exist in Ontario because Catholic Quebec legislators insisted on them as a condition for the legislators' cooperation, first in the Union Parliament before Confederation, and then for Quebec joining Canada. But times have changed. Quebec no longer supports public religious schools, and Ontario now contains many adherents of non-Christian religions. Ontario is now among the world's most diverse, secular societies and yet the Ontario government is still being held hostage to 1867 arrangements.
Malcolm Buchanan and Bryan Kerman, National Post, September 11
Earlier: Stories about the Toronto Catholic school board
September 11/2008
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